THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
was also included, the species being scarcely distinguishable as of specific 
rank. Moreover, this had been described before either Gould or Swainson 
by Wagler, but he had used a preoccupied name. Consequently Gould’s 
specific name was preserved. 
Forty years afterward Gould described from the Lake Eyre district 
Melithreptes Icetior, observing that the collector recorded when alive it liad a 
bright yellow rim round the eye and adding : “ Although very closely aided 
to M. gularis Gould this species is altogether a much more finely coloured bird. 
In size it is slightly larger, and is at once to be distinguished by its white 
under-surface and the beautiful lemon-yellow of the neck. The ashy shade wliich 
pervades the entire lower surface of M. gularis is not seen in If. Icetior." 
Tills was also admitted as a valid species, Ramsay writing in connection 
with Cairns’ collection from Derby: “ Dr. Hans Gadow has confused this 
species with M. gularis Gould from which it is very distinct, probably because 
he has had only a single specimen to judge from. A large series now before 
me plainly shows that the two species are quite distinct from one another, 
their size and colouring being imvarying. I have received it from the Norman 
River and other parts of the interior.” 
Some years afterward Campbell wrote: “ Mr. F, L. Bemey forwarded 
from Homestead, North Queensland, a Honey-eater. . . He . . other 
specimens . . forwarded later. Judging by this material (four skins) 
there appear grounds for making a new variety, if not subspecies. The new 
bird most resembles Melithreptus Icetior, from which it differs in its general 
darker tone of colouring, and in the bare space round the eye being greenish- 
blue instead of bright yellow (Gould) or greenish-yellow (Hall-Rogers). It has 
been stated that M. Icetior may be only a very fine example of M. gularis. 
M. gularis is a much heavier species, and otherwise quite distinct. It has 
been taken in Victoria, where M. Icetior is never seen, and appears to be the 
mainland form of the still larger M. validirostris of Tasmania. Mr. A. J. 
North mentions that M. Icetior is found in the Gulf district of Northern 
Queensland, and in the event of the Check List Committee separating the 
eastern from tbe western and ulterior form, I would suggest the name Meli- 
reptus carpentariana for the North Queensland bird.” 
At the time I was preparing my “ Reference List ” I was reducing all 
geographical representatives to subspecific rank, making no distinction between 
geographical species and geographical subspecies. Consequently I regarded all 
the gularis style of bird as constituting one species and arranged them thus: 
Melithreptus gularis gularis (Gould). 
New South Wales, Victoria. 
Melithreptus gularis loftyi Mathews. 
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